Family: Clusiaceae
Origin, Description & Uses:
Garcinia xanthochymus, commonly known as the gambogetree or false mangosteen, is native to parts of Southeast Asia, including India, Myanmar, and Thailand. This small to medium-sized tree produces glossy, evergreen leaves and yellow-orange fruits that are sour to taste. While primarily grown for ornamental purposes and its resin, which has traditional uses in dyeing and medicine, the tree is sometimes planted for its edible fruit in home gardens.
Risks & Threats:
Although Garcinia xanthochymus is not currently naturalized in Hawai‘i, it possesses traits that could be cause for concern, such as rapid growth, fruit production that could attract birds, and adaptability to tropical conditions. Further evaluation is needed to determine whether it could establish in local ecosystems. Caution is recommended to ensure that planting this species will not negatively impact Hawai‘i’s native plants and habitats.
High Risk Traits:
- Thrives in tropical climates
- Grows from 100-1400 m in native range
- Naturalized in Queensland, Australia
- Possibly naturalized on Molokai (targeted for eradication)
- Shade-tolerant (may be able to spread into forest understory)
- Tolerates many soil types (potential to exploit many habitats)
- Self-compatible
- Animal-dispersed seeds (Possibly certain birds, pigs, rats, and mongoose in Hawaii)
Low Risk Traits:
- Evidence of negative impacts unspecified
- Edible fruit
- Requires 5 or more years to reach fruit bearing age
- Fruits and seeds relatively large and unlikely to be spread accidentally
- Seeds unlikely to persist in soil
